Catching up

Ok. I know it's been about two months since I have blogged. Summer always throws me for a loop. I do much better on a schedule and I do much better when I have some time to myself. So, I'm going to pull a "Kenneth" and write several in one day. I will probably have to write several more on another day to catch up. We started off the summer with Jacob going to church camp for the first time. For those going into second grade they have a day camp. I went along with the group. I can handle going when I don't have to spend the night. Jacob enjoyed it a lot - especially the swimming. They got to swim in the pool and the lake. This year they have a new trampoline out in the lake and the kids really enjoyed it. Caleb went to camp for a whole week but I don't have any pictures of his time there. He thoroughly enjoyed it! Joshua chose not to go to camp this year. Falling out of the top bunk last year didn't help make him want to go back.

Doing flips off of the diving board at camp.

Having fun on the orbit!

Jumping into the lake.

Swimming in the lake.

More pictures from Zink Ranch

If you didn't read my last post you need to. It explains what these pictures are from.

Hammering away to make a note or recipe holder.

The boys did really well for their first time doing archery. I also got to do archery and bb guns.

A long, wet, muddy Saturday

Just a warning. This blog will probably turn into two or three blogs because I can't narrow down the pictures. This last Saturday Joshua, Jacob and I ventured out to Zink Ranch for the Cub Scout Mom and Me campout (we didn't spend the night). We got out there around 7:30 am and didn't leave until around 9:00 pm. We were really tired by the end of the day (my legs and feet are still sore from so much walking). It rained for the first 2 1/2 hours we were there. I was afraid it was going to rain all day. It cleared up though and was just very cool and very muddy. The boys loved it though so it was worth it. Jacob finally got to do bb's and archery which he's been wanting to do all year. The both enjoyed the archery the most and Jacob also enjoyed the zipline (Joshua didn't want to try it). They also got to do a wood craft, make lanyards, make paper airplanes and learn some survival skills. It was a very full day! By the end of the day Jacob's jeans and hiking boots were covered in mud. I just threw away his boots because they were really disgusting and he would probably outgrow them before the fall anyway.

I learned my lesson from going to the zoo. I bought us all ponchos to wear.

Jacob was very excited about finally getting to shoot a bb gun. He got to shoot three different times.

Joshua enjoyed shooting the bb gun also but he liked archery more.

Jacob on the zipline - he was a little nervous but thought it was fun.

A Wet Day at the Zoo

I volunteered to go with Jacob's class to the zoo yesterday. If I would have known that the weather would be nasty and that I wouldn't be feeling well I probably wouldn't have volunteered. It started raining on the drive out there and rained almost the whole time we were there. I had an umbrella so I didn't get soaked but Jacob was very wet because he didn't want to stay under the umbrella very much. We spent a lot of time inside the buildings - along with a ton of other school groups. The kids didn't seem to mind the rain and still had a good time. I think it was harder on the parents! It will definitely be a memory for them. Today I'm going to try to find some rain ponchos because tomorrow Joshua, Jacob and I will be outside all day for a Scout activity and I'm pretty sure we're going to get wet again. Hopefully we don't end up with pneumonia! I have a cold and the boys have both had coughs. The things we do for our kids! I've decided that spring definitely is not my favorite season. I'm really tired of allergy problems, wind and rain. I'm not really ready for the heat of summer yet though. A nice fall day sounds wonderful. I guess I'll have to wait a while for that.

Jacob's very wet first grade class.

Jacob and Watson wanted to pet and brush the wet sheep and goats. Gross!

The boys thought it was fun to slide on the wet floor.

Watson was Jacob's partner for the day. His full name is Brian Watson Jennings but he goes by Watson. It's really funny because one of our ministers at church is Brian Jennings.

Yikes! There' a teenager living in my house!

Well, today I am officially the mother of a teenager. I don't know how this happened. My body frequently feels old but in my mind and heart I don't feel old enough to have a teenager. We had Caleb's party on Saturday. We invited 5 of Caleb's friends over for pizza and cookie cake. They were a noisy crew! After eating and presents, Kenneth and our youth minister, Lane, took the boys to play Laser Tag. They had a lot of fun! Caleb got lots of cash and gift cards which he was excited about. He had been saving up for Guitar Hero World Tour. Yesterday I went and got it and the boys tried it out. It's a lot of fun! It has a guitar, drums and a microphone. It definitely should be an interesting ride - life with a teenager. Hopefully we can afford to keep feeding him. He eats constantly!

A noisy bunch of boys!

Trying out Guitar Hero World Tour.

Caleb and Jacob enjoyed using the empty boxes. Caleb is all legs and eating (as usual).

Space Derby

I felt bad that the boys didn't get to do the Pinewood Derby this year. We didn't have the right tools and I had no clue how to do it.
They decided to do a Space Derby with rockets and it sounded easier. It wasn't as easy as it sounded. Thankfully, we had some family in town for Jacob's birthday and they were a lot of help. We didn't get them very rounded because sanding them was taking a lot of time. They still worked well though. In fact, Joshua won a trophy. He won three of the four races that he participated in. He got a trophy because out of his den his rocket did the best. It was a lot of work but the boys had fun. I owe a big thank-you to the grandparents for all of their help!

Joshua's rocket is the one on the right which is winning.

Jacob was disappointed that he didn't get a trophy but he still had fun.

Joshua was very excited about his trophy!

Joshua decorated his rocket with a patriotic theme.

My WILD child!

Jacob is full of life, energy and craziness!

What a cutie! I enjoy watching him try things even though it scares me sometimes.

Jacob sticks his tongue out when he concentrates. His brothers and his Dad do this too.

Jacob is definitely the most daring of my three boys. I let him try things that I never would have let Caleb do at that age. He's been bugging us for almost a year to get him a skateboard ramp. I was really afraid we would end up with some broken bones (which we still might). We got him a small beginner's ramp - complete with helmet and padding. We had told him that he had to be seven to have a ramp. The morning of his birthday when I woke him up the first words out of his mouth were "Will you buy me a ramp now?" He didn't know that we'd already gotten him one. He's still getting the hang of it with his skateboard but he loves using it with his bike. He even caught some air (his words) once after building up a lot of speed. Now he thinks he needs a grinding rail. I said no for right now. He got some rollerblades from his grandparents so he's into blading now too. I'm sure it won't be long before he wears his rollerblades and uses the ramp. It's pretty amazing that he hasn't had any stitches or broken bones yet (knock on wood). Seven years without serious injury is pretty good for this kid.